Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Doing the good is an art and a balancing act, not a neat, tidy science whereby we simple-mindedly carry some one principle toward infinity. The right attitude toward wealth lies somewhere between miserliness and prodigality; the right attitude toward danger lies somewhere between rashness and cowardice; the right attitude toward pleasure is found somewhere between decadence and insensibility. So too does the right attitude toward the exotic lie between two extremes to be avoided — somewhere between xenophobia and xenophilia. It is from this perspective that I criticize the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent endorsement of citizenship for illegal immigrants, and regard their strident condemnation of xenophobia much as I would an alcoholic’s condemnation of Prohibition.

Last, but not least, in Rochester NY charges have been dropped against a woman who was arrested for videotaping cops making a traffic stop in front of her home. However, while the police chief insists that an internal investigation is underway into that arrest and into several officers who ticketed cars during a meeting by activists in response to that arrest, the chief announced that he plans to keep the results of those misconduct investigations a secret. [5] http://bit.ly/khZWyf

"The principle, on which the war was waged by the North, was simplythis:That men may rightfully be compelled to submit to, and support, agovernment that they do not want; and that resistance, on their part,makes them traitors and criminals.

No principle, that is possible to benamed, can be more self-evidently false than this; or moreself-evidently fatal to all political freedom.

Yet it triumphed in thefield, and is now assumed to be established. If it really beestablished, the number of slaves, instead of having been diminished bythe war, has been greatly increased; for a man, thus subjected to agovernment that he does not want, is a slave.

And there is nodifference, in principle --- but only in degree --- between politicaland chattel slavery. The former, no less than the latter, denies a man'sownership of himself and the products of his labor; and asserts thatother men may own him, and dispose of him and his property, for theiruses, and at their pleasure."

That door swings both ways. There is not enough sweetener on the planet to mask the sins of man’s inhumanity to man, and that includes African-American history.

Beginning on this continent in 1619, the first 20 Africans were brought to the Virginia colony by Dutch traders and exchanged for food with the colonists. One of those 20 Africans was Anthony Johnson.

By 1623, he had earned his freedom under the indentured servant system. And by 1651, he was prosperous enough to import five indentured servants of his own for which he received a grant of 250 acres as head rights.

Slavery was established in the English colonies in 1654 when Anthony Johnson convinced the Northampton County, Va., court that he was entitled to the lifetime services of a man named John Casor. This was the first judicial approval of life servitude, except as punishment for a crime or debt.

Black Africans have been enslaved by Arabs, Europeans and other Africans for centuries before they were brought to the New World and even today in some African countries.

Blacks arrived slowly during the first four decades of colonization. Most white immigrants during this time arrived as indentured servants and many of the first blacks were also indentured and earned their freedom after a period of servitude.

In 1650, there were only 300 African-Americans in Virginia. Some of those were not slaves, any more than the approximately 4,000 white indentured servants working off their loans for passage to Virginia.

The growing colonies were remarkably free of racial bias. Free blacks voted, owned land, held elective office and imported their own white and black indentured servants.

The major prejudice of the time was by the English gentry toward lower classes without distinction as to color.

Black and white indentured servants worked together and sometimes ran away together. I doubt that one in 10,000 African-Americans can tell you who Anthony Johnson was because it is not taught as part of black history. That is sugarcoating.

Slavery existed in the colonies under the English flag for 150 years before the revolution and for many years after the revolution under the Star-Spangled Banner.

It took the U.S. government another more than 100 years after that to enact a Civil Rights Act signed into law by a southerner, President Lyndon B. Johnson. As for the more than 200,000 African-American soldiers who fought for the Stars and Stripes in the Civil War, their service to the country was not acknowledged and honored with an exclusive monument until 135 years after the war ended.

African-Americans who served in the Confederate service had monuments erected in the states of Mississippi, South Carolina and others 100 years ago while the veterans were still living.

Even to this day, Veterans Administration-issued gravestones have the designation USCT, for United States Colored Troops, stating a difference between them and their white fellow U.S soldiers.

In comparison, a black Confederate veteran’s stone is the same as a white Confederate veteran’s stone.

During Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in the 1930s, there was the largest Ku Klux Klan rally in history where 40,000 hooded Klansmen marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the nation’s capital. Each of them carried a flag, the U.S. flag. Not a Confederate flag of any kind is seen in the entire archived photo.

All the sugarcoating in the world can’t sweeten that segment of history.

In their quest for a gun free and thereby violence free society they have denied re-importation of approximately 100,000 M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine Rifles from our long time ally, South Korea.

In August 2010, after first giving approval, the Obama Administration blocked the South Korean government’s program of selling the weapons to American collectors and enthusiasts.

These rifles, approximately 27,000 M-1 Garands Carbines and 86,000 M-1 Garands were left in South Korea after their war with the North. The country holds roughly 640,000 of the carbines in their strategic reserves.

Given their role in both WWII and the Korean War, many Guns and Patriots readers are alive today because a father or grand father carried one of these well built, reliable, easy to maintain, and accurate American-made rifles.

Gen. George S. Patton Jr., was a great fan of the weapon. Describing the M-1 Garand, he called it: “The greatest battle implement ever devised.” High praise indeed.

I use the Super Fly for my LCR .357 pictured below. The pocket carry gives you the advantage of being able in many instances of having your hand physically on your gun without others realizing this.================================

I guess I am like a lot of people: .38 snubnose revolver in my pocket. One of the most popular concealed carry handguns is the small frame revolver, and one of the most popular places to carry one is in a pocket.

Pocket carry offers a lot of advantages. I personally like the fact that I can slip the gun into a pants pocket with virtually any wardrobe choice and the revolver will always be close at hand.

Even if you don’t like the wheelgun option, there are a lot of semi-auto pistols suitable for riding in a pocket. The popularity of the Ruger LCP, SIG SAUER P238 and Kel-Tec P3AT certainly seem to suggest that.

No matter what tool you choose, you need to carry that weapon in a holster.

Rand Paul to John Pistole: You're Clueless

John Pistole, head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), thinks flying is a privilege, and therefore, apparently, those of us “privileged” to be doing it ought to be subjected to whatever humiliations his agents can dish out.

Sen. Rand Paul, during his questioning of Pistole in Senate hearings this week, quoted the Supreme Court’s contrary view:

The right to travel is so important that it is assertable against private interference as well as governmental action. A virtually unconditional personal right, guaranteed by the Constitution to us all.

Sen. Paul continued in saying:

I feel less safe because you’re doing these invasive exams on a six year old. It makes me think you’re clueless, that you think she’s going to attack our country and that you’re not doing your research on the people who would attack our country.

Well, it might not be…but it sure is one of the fastest bits of shooting I’ve ever seen.

I ran across this video this weekend to pick up some tips on shooting drills and was blown away at how fast Kyle Lamb can push lead through these targets. Kit Up! readers might remember my attempt at this drill last year at ITI and it was pathetic (especially since my boss beat me as well).

But Lamb has the money quote in this one where he says “taking out three dudes in less than two seconds isn’t bad.”

Michael Kacer had been trying to put together a trip with his nephew, Isaiah, for a while, and something always came up.

It turned out to be worth the wait.

Kacer, a veteran who lost his left arm in a 2008 rocket attack in Afghanistan, is enjoying the spotlight after his terrific catch of a foul ball at Yankee Stadium on Friday night attracted national attention.

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Southern Lady

Core Creek Militia

==============================My sixth great grandfather, his wife, and five of his six children were killed in battle with the Tuscarora Indians at Core Creek, NC.

The Seven Blackbirds

==============================My third great grandfather was an Ensign in the Revolutionary War, and saved his unit's flag after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine. He was also at Kingston (Kinston), Wilmington, Charleston, Two Sisters and Augusta. He was at the defeat at Brier Creek and also Bee Creek.

Requiem Aeternam -
Eternal Rest Grant unto Them
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My second great grandfather was killed in action on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.
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My great grandfather and great uncle knew all the men in the "Civil War Requiem" video as they were part of the 53rd NC which was the sole unit defending Fort Mahone. (Fort Mahone was named "Fort Damnation" by the Yankees) *Handpicked men of the 53rd (My great grandfather was one of these) made the final, night assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman which was a few miles to the slight northeast. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. This video is made from photographs which were taken the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox. I have many more pictures taken by the same photographer, one of these shows a 14 year old boy and the other is the famous picture of the blond, handsome soldier with his musket.
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*General Gordon promised the men a gold medal and 30 days leave if they accomplished their task and many years after the War my great grandfather wrote General Gordon, who was then governor of Georgia about this incident. They exchanged several letters which I have framed. See first link below.
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*The Attack On Fort Stedman
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"His Colored Friends"
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Lee's Surrender
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My Black NC Kinfolks
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Punished For Being Caught!

Great Grandfather Koonce

He was a drummer boy in the WBTS, survived the War only to die a few years later. He was caught in an ice storm on his way home, but instead of seeking shelter, continued on his horse until the end. His clothes had to be cut off and he died a few days later.

Thank you

I would just like you to know how so very glad I am that I found your blog. I have learned more history from you and the many links that you post than I have from reading all my history books. I can never thank you enough for the education you are freely giving me. It is priceless. And eye opening.

Many times I will not comment, but that does not mean I am not reading and learning.

You sir, are an educator. Thank you.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

Good morning Mr. Townsend,

Just to let you know I have finally finished that massive tome on General Lee. I never knew 1/10th of what a great man he was. No wonder the South is so proud of him! So sad that we have few men of his caliber today. We need them desperately. I have learned more history through you and your blog than I thought I could ever learn. I am very grateful to you. Thank you so much for taking time to answer my e-mail. And thank you for your blog and for opening my eyes.

PhyllisWantage, NJ

".......So good to hear from you! And also so pleased you are converting more of us Yankees! You have no idea how many people you have taught. And how many are so grateful to you for showing us the truth."

Your faithful friend,

Phylis

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I have also learned from Brock Townsend and two nurses lately, that appreciation expressed by someone for whom you have great respect overwhelms the lack of appreciation by some from whom you expect it. I believe that we cannot really know which small bit of help makes the life-saving difference. ﻿

I have learned more history from you than all the years I was supposed to be in school (and not out hunting or fishing).

==============================

I really must say, I like thousands of others have said, your blog is the best out there and with all of your history and experience, you should run for *president. I look forward to reading your blog every day and every day I learn from you. Thank you for the time you put into this effort .

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